Red Seal & Compulsory Trades by Province
Red Seal & Compulsory Trades by Province
The Red Seal is a national endorsement -- not a licence -- that supports moving your trade between provinces. The trade count, and how many trades each province makes COMPULSORY (you cannot work them without certification).
Red Seal
| Designated Red Seal trades | 54 |
| What it is | an endorsement, not a licence; supports interprovincial mobility under the CFTA |
Compulsory-trade count by province
| Ontario (ON) | 23 compulsory trades |
| Alberta (AB) | 19 |
| Nova Scotia (NS) | 13 |
| New Brunswick (NB) | 12 |
| Manitoba (MB) | 9 (incl 3 beauty trades: Electrologist, Esthetician, Hairstylist) |
| British Columbia (BC) | 7 (in force 1 Dec 2023) |
| Saskatchewan (SK) | 5 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador (NL) | 5 |
| Prince Edward Island (PEI) | 4 |
| Quebec (QC) | CCQ/R-20 + RBQ dual system -- not a single compulsory count |
As of 2026 -- confirm before relying on it. Red Seal = 54 trades (do not use the old '56'). A compulsory trade means you must be certified (or a registered apprentice) to work it in that province. Confirm at red-seal.ca and your provincial apprenticeship authority.
Sources: red-seal.ca -- designated trades list (54) · provincial apprenticeship / compulsory-trade lists
SiteKiln provides general guidance only. This is not legal, tax, financial or professional advice. Always verify information and seek professional advice if unsure. © SiteKiln 2026